Compare towns
Dedham vs Johnston vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Johnston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
29,835Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Dedham | Johnston | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.